DANBURY -- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has begun to accept renewal applications from the undocumented youth who were the first to receive a work permit and the federal government's two-year reprieve from the threat of deportation.

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Twenty-six-year-old Camila Bortolleto is working in Washington, D.C., on the national campaign, reaching out to the local groups that will conduct information sessions.

The criteria for DACA include being less than 31 years old as of June 15, 2012; having come to the U.S. while under the age of 16; not having committed a felony or serious misdemeanor; and being a high school graduate, having obtained a GED, or being honorably discharged from the Coast Guard or armed forces.

"We recommend that people start to apply for renewal up to five months before their waiver expires," Camila Bortolleto said this week. "The problem is that it takes time to process an application. If you do not have your new card by the time your old card expires, then you will not be protected by the law."

When DACA went into effect two years ago, it was estimated that 1.6 million people would be eligible to apply based on the program's strict qualifications.

So far, 650,000 have applied for waivers, Bortolleto said. About 70,000 will be due to start the renewal process this month.

Carolina Bortolleto is leading the effort for Connecticut's information sessions, which include one at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Central Christian Church on West Street in Danbury.

Connecticut has had 3,986 applicants since the program started two years ago, though it was first estimated that there were about 10,000 in the state who were eligible.

"She will talk about who qualifies and when to renew, and then we will make appointments for those people who want help in making application for the program or renewing," said Carolina Bortolleto, who also is civic engagement coordinator at the Hispanic Center.

At the event, immigrant youth will help educate the community about DACA renewals.

There are any number of reasons why people chose not to apply, the Bortolletos said.

"Some of it is the education requirement or the criminal requirement, or some people don't know the qualifications and they don't apply," Camila Bortolleto said.

She admitted some might have been wary at first.

"It's two years out now and no one has faced backlash or consequences," she said. "Now people will see others renewing and how they are keeping their status."

Still, this is not a path to citizenship and most people who have a DACA waiver will never get citizenship or a Green Card until the immigration law is changed, she said. "Yes, there is still hope. Even when DACA passed, the Obama administration knew it was not permanent."

"It opened up a new world," Carolina Bortolleto said. "I could get my driver's license and think about a future. It took a while to realize it. When you are undocumented for so long, you stop thinking about a future."